Machine for seaming heads on cans.



No. 831,500. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

A. D. COLEMAN. MACHINE FOR SEAMING- HEADS 0N CANS.

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' No. 831,600. PATENTED SEPT. 18, 1906.

A. 1). COLEMAN.

MACHINE FOR SEAMING HEADS 0N CANS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAYZQ, 1905. 3 SHEETS-SHEBT-Z.

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UNITED. STATES EATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE F OR SEAMING HEADS ON CANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 18, 1906.

Application filed May 22,1905. Serial No. 261,603.

To a. whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARNOLD D. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Seaming Heads on Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Heretofore machines have been constructed for this purpose in which the cans are supported'with the head in place in oppositelydisposed revolving chucks, which hold the body and the head flanges against a stationary die-bar to form and close the seam. In machines of this class heretofore rolling pressure is exerted immediately upon the can itself to force the same against the die-b ar, and

various devices have been used for this purose. Where such .rolling pressure is exerted directly upon the can, the cans are likely to be injured or at least imperfectly sealed, owing to the sides of the can yielding some what from the pressure.

The object of this invention is to close the can by rolling the can-body and the headflanges directly against a fixed die-bar by means of oppositely-disposed rolling or revolving chucks on one of which rolling pressure is exerted by means of a chain belt hav- The invention consists in the matter hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of one link of the pressure-transmitting chain belt. Fig. 3 is a detail section illustrating the construction of the driving-sprocket for the chain. Fig. A is a similar view illustrating the construction of the idler-sprocket therefor. Fig. 5 is an elevation taken at the feed end of the machine. Figs. 6 to 9 are enlarged fragmentary detail views illustrating the construction of the chucks and the relation of the fixed die and pressure-chain therewith in forming and closing the seam. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

As shown in said drawings, said machine comprises a base or frame A, having thereon the standards B.

upright standards B and B, upon which the operating mechanism is carried. A drivingshaft a is provided at one end of the machine and provided with tight and loose pulleys a and a and, as usual, saidv driving-shaft is rovided on its inner end with a pinion a which meshes with a gear a4, secured on a transverse shaft of. A bevel-gear a is also provided on said shaft a which mesheswith the bevel-pinion a on a vertical transverse shaft a on the upper end of which is a pinion a meshing with a gear a, rigidly secured on a shaft a, journaled in brackets (r which are rigidly secured centrally at the end of a horizontal frame C, supported on the top of Beneath said gear 0) and secured on the same shaft is a sprocketwheel a, below which is secured a disk or wheel a Said gear a and the disk or wheel (L are each provided with a shoulder or peripheral rib on their inner side adapted to afford a support for the chain E, whereby the chucks are engaged. At the opposite end of the frame C is provided a bracket 0, corresponding with the bracket a, and journaled therein is a shaft 0, having thereon a sprocket-wheel 0 an upper disk 0 and a lower disk 0%, each provided with an inner rib near the periphery similar to those shown near the periphery of the gear a and disk a.

The chain or link belt E is trained around said sprocket-wheels and is supported between the gear (1 and disk a at one end of the machine and the disks 0 and c at the other and comprises a plurality of duplicate interchangeable links E, having on the rear side at one end two apertured knuckles e andat the other one apertured knuckle e of a thickness equal to the distance between the knuckles 6, so that the single knuckle of one link fits between and is pintled with the knuckles of the next adjacent link. Extending outwardly from the middle of the rear side of the link is a tooth or projection 0 which, together with the knuckles, engages the sprockets. Said chain for the entire length of its run between thesprocket-wheels on the inner side of the frame fits against the frame C, with the knuckles and teeth thereof projecting into a longitudinal groove therein. (Not shown.)

The front side of each link is approxi face. A central longitudinal rib e is provided on the face of each link, and secured beneath the same is a hardened-steel friction or wear plate a, the outer edges of which are in alinement in the inner run of the chain or belt and afiord a working face adapted to engage the upper chuck, revolving the same.

Supported on the standards B and. rigidly secured thereto is a die-bar F, provided witha longitudinal rib f on the under side, against which and rigidly secured to the die-bar is the die f comprising a strip or bar of steel f, extending the length of the die-bar and providing a projecting flat edge f 2 opposite the wear-plate 6*, against which the top of the chuck is engaged. Beneath said projecting edge the die is shaped for engagement by the v can-body and head-flanges and is shaped to form and progressivly close the seam as the.

flanges are rolled thereagainst. As shown, said die first for a part of its length affords a downwardly-directed approximately rightangled shoulder f 3 to turn down the projecting edge of the head-flange over the bodyflange. This'is succeeded by a die-face having an under projecting lip f, as shown inv Fig. 7, succeeding which is an under beveled die-face f provided, as shown in Fig. 8, which partly closes the seam, and by a rightangled shoulder f in Fig. 9, which completely closes the seam.

As shown, transverse carrying-bars H are supported across the top of the die-bar F, and at the inner and the outer end of each carrying-bar parallel downwardly-extending ends it and h are provided, in which are horizontally secured inwardly-facing parallel channel-bars h? and it the lower flanges of which afford tracks on each side of the die-bar and somewhat above the same.

Journaled at each end of the machine on the standards B are the vertical shafts H and H respectively. A beveled gear h is secured on the lower end of the shaft H and meshes with a like gear h, feathered on the transverse driving shaft a A yoke h, which also affords the bearing for that end of the shaft of, acts to slide said gear on said shaft with the movement of the standards B, which are adjustable transversely of the machine for varying sizes of cans, thus keeping said gears always in mesh. Secured on each of said shafts H and H at a level with the tracks is a sprocket-wheelh", about which a link chain H comprising plates of metal pintled together in a familiar manner, is trained. Said chain H carries the upper chucks. Alternate links in the chain are provided with rollers h, journaled centrally on each side thereof, which run on the track afforded by the inwardly-directed lower flanges of said channels, thereby reducing friction while carrying the chain horizontally. Extending centrally through each intermediate link and at right angles with the axis of said rollers h is a rotatable cylindric stem h, slidably secured therein. On the lower end of each stem is secured a chuck h, comprising, as shown, a circular plate or disk, the under face of which is of a diameter adapted to fit closely into the recess in the can-head when the same is placed upon the can. At a point in said chuck corresponding with the top of the seam when formed and also with the oppositelyprojecting edges of the wear-plates e of the chain E .and the projecting edge f 'of the die the chuck is reduced in diameter, as shown in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, thus affording a shoulder over which the wear-plate and edge of the die engage to press the chuck down upon the can and roll the flange against the die. The stem h, as shown, is provided with an enlarged head, which prevents the stem falling through the apertures of the chain when the can is removed. The sprocket-wheels h, over which the chuck-carrying chain H is trained, are each constructed with outwardly directed arms having notches in the end thereof adapted to engage the pintles between the links of the chain. The lower chain H corresponds with the upper chain H in construction and is trained around sprocket-wheels h, secured in the shafts H and H and carries the lower chucks L.

Secured on the standards B and extending longitudinally of the machine and directly beneath the channel-iron tracks of the upper chuck are ways i and i each having a longi tudinal groove therein and flat upper faces and at the rear or discharge end of the machine having an inclined end i, as shown in Fig. 10. The chain H trained around the lower sprocket-wheels h, is constructed similarly with the chain H for the upper chucks and, as shown, is provided at intervals in its length with rollers k, which track on the flat faces of the ways and support the weight of the chain H reducing the friction to a minimum. The lower chucks L are constructed similarly with the chucks k and comprise upwardly-facing cylindric disks, which engage in the recess in the can-bottom to support the can and are each provided with a spindle i, slightly engaged through the center of alternating links in the chain H Said spindles are rounded at the lower end to engage in said track or grooves in the ways. 1

The operation is as follows: The cans are filled into the machine at the end remote from the drive end and may be fed either manually or automatically and may be previously filled, if desired. The can is placed upon one of the lower chucks L and beneath the upper corresponding chuck, and as they pass into the machine the wear-plates e on the chain E engage above the upper chuck and against the shoulder thereon, forcing the same against the platef on the die, thus rolling the head-flange and the can-body along the die, forming and closing the seam. The

cans being carried through the machine in an upright position may be filled before insertion into the machine, if desired, and owing to the relatively slow rotation thereof none ofv the contents will be spilled therefrom. Furthermore, inasmuch as there is no pressure exerted on the can-body by the rotating mechanism there is no danger of injuring the cans or forming the seams imperfectly.

Inasmuch as many details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of my invention, I do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine of the class described the combination with chucks adapted to grip a can and its head therebetween, of a station ary die positioned to be engaged by the head and body flanges and a continuously-movable pressure device acting against the chuck to roll the chuck on a part connected with the diethereby rotating the can and head with the flanges thereof in the die, closing the seam.

2. The combination with oppositelyarranged movable chucks adapted to grip a can and its head therebetween, of a fixed die adjacent the path of movement thereof and adapted to be engaged by the body and the head flanges, a continuously-movable chain acting to engage one of the chucks and force the same inwardly and against a part on the die, thereby rotating the chucks and the can and closing the seam.

3. A machine of the class described comprising rolling oppositely-disposed chucks adapted to receive a filled can therein in up right position and to clamp the can-head into place thereon, a die having a part thereon adapted to engage one of the chucks and means engaging one of the chucks only and acting to rotate the same and roll the canhead and the body-flanges against the die, thereby acting to seam the head on the can without soldering.

4. A machine adapted to head and seam filled cans, comprising chucks adapted to engage the cans and clamp a head on each, a fixed die against which projecting flanges of the head and the can-body are rolled to afford a locked seam, a part thereof adapted to engage against the side of one chuck and means acting on one of the chucks to rotate the flanges against the die.

5. In a machine adapted for seaming heads on filled cans, oppositely-disposed upper and lower chucks, between which a filled can and the head thereof are rigidly clamped, a diebar having a part adapted to engage over a part on the upper chuck and against which said chuck has rolling engagement, a chain belt also in positive engagement with said chuck and acting to roll projecting edges of the head and the can against the die closing the seam, and means supporting the chucks and adaptedto afford free rotation and also vertical movement of the same.

6. In a machine for heading filled cans, upper and lower chucks, the one to support a can, the other to grip the head thereon, a fixed die having an upper projecting edge lapping over the top chuck and bearing against a shoulder thereon, means supporting the lower chuck and a continuously-moving pressurechain having positive bearing on the top chuck and forcing the seam against the die and closing the seam by rotating the can.

7. In a machine of the class described, a chuck adapted to support a can in upright position, a complemental chuck adapted to engage a head thereon, a fixed die, means engaging against the last-named chuck only, for revolving the chucks and can, forcing the seam against the die, and chains spacing the chucks a uniform distance apart.

8. In a machine for heading filled cans, op-- positely-disposed rotative chucks, a part of whichare provided with shoulders thereon, near their periphery, a die-bar, a chain adapted to travel longitudinally of said bar, a longitudinal rib thereon adapted to overlap said shoulders and hold the chuck in positive engagement with the die-bar and rotate the can to close the seam.

9. In a machine for seaming heads on cans, the combination with oppositely-disposed upper and lower chucks, of chains adapted to carry said chucks, guide-tracks for said chains, a stationary die adjacent the upper chucks and means adapted to engage said upper chucks peripherally and rotate them against the die.

10. In a machine of the class described the combination with standards of a die thereon, a track depending from each side of said die, sprocket-wheels journaled at each end of said die, a sprocket-chain thereon adapted to travel in said tracks, chucks rotatively engaged on said chains, a chain carried adjacent said chucks and provided on its outer face with a continuous rib adapted to engage said chucks and rotate them against the die and a plurality of chucks movably supported below the aforesaid chucks.

11. In a machine of the class described the combination with standards of a frame rigidly engaged thereon, a sprocket-wheel journaled at each end of said frame, a disk at each side of each wheel affording grooved guides, a pressure-chain driven by said wheels and affording an outwardly-directed rib, a stationary die, a lower chuck-carrying chain, a plurality of chucks thereon adapted to support the cans in a vertical position, an upper chuck-carrying chain and chucks thereon, adapted to engage the top of the cans and to be rolled by the pressure-chain along the face of the die.

12. In a machine of the class described the combination with upper and lower chuckcarrying chains of chucks journaled therein, a die-bar extending longitudinally of the machine, a die-plate on the under face thereof and projecting inwardly therefrom and engaging on the top of the upper chucks, a dieface on said plate and progressively changing in form longitudinally thereof, a pressurechain adapted to rotate said chucks against the die-plate and means su porting said [0 chain opposite the bar and para lel therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARNOLD D. COLEMAN.

Witnesses:

J. B. COLEMAN, CHARLES STEOHER. 

